David Hayden, a frontline activist and advocate for animal and human rights, passed away on January 31. He was the primary driving force at No Compromise magazine and an S.F. Grand Jury resister. David lived in Santa Cruz and worked in Information Technology Services at UCSC. In the announcement of David's passing, Greg Gaither, a director at ITS, stated that David's coworkers appreciated him for his "hard work, positive contributions and fun and easy going nature".

Gaither went on to describe David as a, "devoted animal and human rights advocate and loved the natural world. He had a great sense of humor and was known for his personal and professional integrity. He loved Warriors basketball and was an avid roller derby fan, a sport he liked to share with his friends and colleagues."

In a memorial published in the Talon Conspiracy, a comrade of David's writes, "our movement lost a dedicated, gentle warrior by the name of David Hayden. It would be impossible to summarize all of the ways that he worked on behalf of animals, partly because there were so many ways, and partly because his humility kept us from knowing them all...His passing is a reminder that the best fighters are also the best people: kindhearted, soft spoken, humble, and ready to raise hell when injustice rears its ugly head. We will miss you, David, always."